Chapter 29: Flight.

She shouldn't panic.

She could do a lot of things but panic – right here and now – weren't one of them.

Yet, as the big man tightened his grip on her neck again Joanie couldn't suppress her whimper. She could've choked herself when she saw a look of defeat enter the blond woman's eyes. She prepared to throw the stone.

Joanie-Ellen had never considered herself a courageous person. To the contrary, she lived by the motto 'If you run today, you live to run another day.' She had never had anything the stay and fight for, never a reason to stand her ground. She wasn't very nice towards her fellow man either and she knew it. In a world, which centered on survival of the sneakiest, she was more than happy to let others take the blame for something she had caused or had her hand in.

But, as she realized that this woman, someone she barely knew and hadn't been at all nice to, was willing to give up something she, not only held dear but was also the center of her Power...

Something in Joanie changed.

Almost shaking with tension Joanie allowed her hand to fall down to her side and slip deep into her pocket. Her eyes never left Dame Skyla's hands. She timed herself to the woman's count down and, as the glove left her hand, Joanie made her move.

The action took no more than a few seconds.

Joanie drew out her butterfly blade, flipped it open and plunged it into the man's stomach, turning it and pulling up.

He cried out in shock and pain, dropping her to the floor.

Joanie's world slowed down.

"GO!" She shouted as her feet touched the ground, immediately jumping forward. She caught the glove and crystal before her next breath.

"Go! I'll meet you outside!"

She didn't wait for their reaction. Turning she barely managed to side step a large read hand that hit her way. The monster that had caught her had moved in front of the entrance seconds after Joanie had caught the glove, alerted by its Master's cry. Joanie sidestepped the strange green imp, and a well aimed kick in the blue one's directions send him apart at the middle. She didn't even have time to be surprised. She made a quick turn back to where the man was sprawled on the ground. Joanie stuffed the glove into her mouth, jumped onto his large hip and vaulted up to the ventilation hole.

The man shouted with rage as she used him as a prop. "Get her!" He foamed and turned, too late, to try and hinder her. "Stop her and crush her!"

Joanie pulled herself into the hole, struggling without a decent place she could use as stepping block.

"Screw you asshole." She muttered under her breath.

The read imp grabbed one of her legs. "Hey!" He exclaimed. "Come here Shortie!"

Slipping back Joanie glanced behind her and kicked his head off. Despite herself she giggled as she gathered all the strength in her arms and pulled herself completely into the hole. Stifling an unwanted cough Joanie began to crawl, knowing that she was safe for the moment. No one she had seen so far was small, or rather thin, enough to follow her through the ventilation system. Wiggling through the tunnels she never once considered that it might not take her where she wanted to go. Keeping left, Joanie followed the route upwards. Ten meters up she found what she was looking for. Joanie didn't bother to stick her head through the hole to see whether the coast was clear, nor did she take the time to turn around. She immediately turned on her back, reached up and pulled herself out of the hole. The next was a drop of faith. She slipped down, keeping her body close to the side and lowered herself onto the think cable. She managed to turn around and face forward.

Joanie stared at the walkway in front of her. Scenes from the two previous times she had tried to cross it flashed through her mind. It was then that she did panic. Her mouth went dry and her muscles froze.
She couldn't move.
The daunting walkway, high above the swirling vortex was too much for her. She was too scared to even cry at the hopelessness of her situation. Below her, the red monsters were gone and she could hear the moaned curses from the injured man. The green imp had moved back a safe distance to the tunnel opening. Swallowing down a bout of nausea Joanie tired to coach her body into moving.

They didn't realize that she was still here, probably thinking that she had taken another way out.

Barely keeping her balance Joanie took the glove from her mouth, stuffed it into her pocket and spread her arms.
The green imp looked up.

"Hey you guys!" It called out in a shrill voice. "She's still here!"

Joanie froze and looked down.

"Well, don't just stand there get her!"

The three imps came her way, a distant rumble signaled that one of monsters were returning as well.

Lip quivering and panic like a malignant tumor in her throat Joanie looked straight ahead.

'Mind your arms Angelica. Use them for balance and beauty.'

'I've run over platforms thinner than that.'

'Sniffling little coward...'

'You're being very brave Joanie.'

Joanie-Ellen closed her eyes, spread her arms and crossed the first cable in five long strides. She had no time to celebrate though. Not glancing at her pursuers Joanie opened her eyes and sprinted the two strides over the platform. The generator was already giving off a lot of heat. She didn't look down as she reached the next cable and she didn't break her stride.

Keeping her arms spread Joanie didn't stop until she reached the opposite wall. A monster came up below her but she didn't mind him and jumped for the opening. Time slowed as she grabbed the edge and pulled herself up. She wiggled into the hole just as the monster's hand came down on the wall.

Joanie scrambled away from the opening, her arms and legs sluggish with fear.

The monster managed to get two fingers into the hole to try and fish her out but Joanie kicked them back and started scrambling up the vent.

What little light she had suddenly disappeared as something blocked the opening hole. Joanie frowned and glanced around.
She was jerked back as the air in the vent got sucked out.
Joanie cried out surprised and kicked against the sides with her legs as well as brace herself with her arms. The force of the suction was inconceivable. Joanie's small frame began to shake with effort to keep herself in place. She just started to slip when it stopped.

Joanie fell back again the floor, gasping for breath.

She managed to get moving again when all the air came rushing back. Joanie cried out as an invisible wall hit her. She shot off into the depths.

In the dark, she never saw the blind turn...

AN: 'Blushes embarrass.' Ah, no. (Really terrible back water world.) But it sound absolutely atrocious. I'm actually also an over 20 person so... I don't pay that much attention to what's on the tv anymore safe for when I have breakfast (that's when I watch 'Courage') and sometimes over weekends (stuck on history channel except for when it's a Sunday Showdown of either Johnny Bravo or Courage. Do you remember Gummi Bears, Duck Tales and all of those programs though? They were the best! Winnie the Pooh as well. I'm really disappointed in the new movies that they make though. 'sniff-sniff' it's not the same.